​Eagles return key player, rout Raytown 9-0

by Michael Smith
 
The Grain Valley girls soccer team got a key player back just in time.

This week, sophomore Radleigh Childers made her return in a Monday game against William Chrisman after missing two games due to a right knee injury she suffered during a 1-0 win against Blue Springs on April 23. She made an immediate impact upon her return as she helped the team beat Chrisman 8-0 on Monday and Platte County 6-1 Wednesday.

She appeared to be 100 percent in the Eagles’ regular-season finale against Raytown on Thursday as she had two goals and two assists as Grain Valley cruised to a 9-0 victory on the road.

“I was just easing back into games this week and the knee felt fine,” Childers said.

Childers provides Grain Valley speed and athleticism at the forward possession, and she forms a dynamic goal-scoring duo with senior Emma Thiessen.

“It’s huge,” Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis said of getting his star forward back. “She gives us a log of speed at the forward or wing position. She gives us a big boost in terms of attacking power.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Alayna Maybell is another Eagle who has been dealing with an injury as she has a bruised rib that she sustained in a 1-0 loss to Blue Springs South on May 2. Lewis said he anticipates she will be ready to play by the time his team plays Fort Osage on Monday in the first round of the Class 4 District 6 Tournament.

“She’s good. She played against Platte County. This is precautionary,” Lewis said. “We want her to have a rest. Hopefully things feel better next week.”

Even without Maybell the Eagles were able to shut out Raytown and have some fun doing it.

Lewis allowed back line players to play up top as forwards and wings, while those who were normally in those positions were dropped to the back line. Childers was one of them as she played as a right back late in the game and senior Sevi Aumua, a defender, played as a forward and scored a goal with 12 seconds left.

“I promised Sevi and some of the defenders if we get a certain amount of a lead, I will try them at forward and have a little bit of fun,” Lewis said. Added Aumua: “Playing up top was definitely weird. I didn’t know where to go. I was yelling at Emma (Thiessen) and Meghan (Knust) ‘Where do I stand?’ Scoring felt good, I thought I was going to kick it over the top.”

​Joining Aumua and Childers in the scoring were Thiessen, junior Ally GIlbert, senior Sophia Guiliano, sophomore Avery Stumpenhaus and junior Josie Daniels, who each had a goal.

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Correction: Corrected name of Radleigh Childers from original version. 5/11/2024 8:00pm

Grain Valley senior Sevi Aumua, left, and sophomore Radleigh Childers got to try playing new positions during their team's 9-0 win against Raytown Thursday on the road. Childers had two goals and two assists and Aumua had a score. Photo credit: Michael Smith